Sangeetha Menon- NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme- Connecting Knowledge, Well being and Beyond

Sangeetha Menon

Contact Information

Academic Overview & Educational Background

Sangeetha Menon is Professor and Head of the Consciousness Studies Programme, and the Dean of the School of Humanities at NIAS. She joined National Institute of Advanced Studies, in January 1996, in the Indian Institute of Science campus, Bangalore (India). Her interview and appointment was led by an illustrious group of scientists like Dr Raja Ramanna (Founding Director of NIAS), Prof CV Sundaram, Prof BV Sreekantan and Prof RL Kapur. Subsequently she conceptualised and commenced the NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme along with BV Sreekantan (former Director, TIFR and Honorary Professor, NIAS). This was the first academic group that started in India to study consciousness with an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary mandate. She currently heads the NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme and is the Professor and Dean of the School of Humanities at NIAS.

Her major area of research is philosophy of psychology. Her expertise is in Indian philosophy, consciousness studies, philosophy of psychology, philosophy and psychology of self, bio- & neuroethics and neurophilosophy. She works with her colleagues at NIAS and collaborators across the world in creating and encouraging a first-person centered approach to understanding consciousness and cognitive capabilities that favours experiential wellbeing for all.

Dr Menon’s professional qualifications include degrees in biology and philosophy. She has an extensive research background in psychology. She is a first rank holder and gold medalist from Maharaja’s College for Women, Trivandrum for post-graduate degree in philosophy. Her doctoral dissertation is on the concept of consciousness in the Bhagavad Gita which was completed with junior and senior research fellowship from University Grants Commission, India. She also taught postgraduate students for two years at the Department of Philosophy, Kerala University, during the tenure of UGC fellowship.

Sangeetha Menon started her research with a comparative study of consciousness, from the East and the West, with focus on the theories of agency, emotion, freedom, self, and human wellbeing in the Bhagavad Gita. Subsequently she focused on Indian philosophical concepts criss-crossing the works of philosophers such as Sankaracharya, Abhinavagupta, Narayana Guru et al. and also bringing in Indian aesthetics and dramaturgy to understand cognitive dimensions of creative expressions and personal agency. Her initial papers argue for an epistemological shift that considers the ontological primacy of self, and the importance of the experiencer that would present the ‘harder problem’ of consciousness. While some of her initial studies were deeply metaphysical and philosophical in approach, she moved on to engaging philosophy with biology and psychology to understand the primary issue in consciousness, which is the ‘self’. She is one of the originators of the field of Indian psychology, guiding research in the area of wellbeing studies, life-sustaining values, self-transformation and artistic experience. One of her primary contributions in consciousness studies is in presenting and engaging with the concept and experience of self from the neurobiological and philosophical point of views, and theorising a ‘self-challenged brain and brain-challenged self’.

Projects and Research Expertise

Research Expertise include: Consciousness Studies, Philosophy of Mind, Indian philosophy, Emotion Studies, Cultural Psychology, Ethnography of Indiegnous Healing, Transpersonal Psychology, Medical Humanities, Narrative Studies, and AI & Society

Since 1996, various projects have been completed at NIAS by Sangeetha Menon for conducting research and organising conferences. The project and conference sponsors include:
Dept of Science & Technology (DST) – Govt of India
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Govt of India
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – Govt of India
Dept of Atomic Energy (DAE) – Govt of India
Dept of Science and Technology (DST) – Govt of India
Dept of Biotechnology (DBT) – Govt of India
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – Govt of India
Cognitive Science Research Initiative (CSIR-DST) – Govt of India
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
National Board of Higher Mathematics (DAE) – Govt of India
Indian Council of Philosophical Research
Infosys Foundation
Indo-US Forum
Templeton Foundation
Interdisciplinary Institute of Paris
The Mani Bhaumik Foundation
METI-International
The Tata Trusts
Sheela Kanoria Foundation

Current and Recent Projects:
(2018-2022)

Project Investigator: Study of Indigenous healing traditions of Kerala with focus on Indigenous psychology and living, with focus on Kerala – funded by the Tata Trusts (2018-2022)
Funding: 125.91 lakhs
Project Investigator: Consciousness and Causality in Kashmir Saivism, and with contributions from AI – funded by the Tata Trusts (2018-2022)
Funding: 161.51 lakhs
Project Investigator: NAVARANG: The Colors, Moods, And Voices Of The Marginal And Indigenous Communities – Four Documentaries And Research Narratives Focusing On Tribal Healers, Ritual Arts, Food Culture, And Local Ecologies Of India, funded by The Sheela Kanoria Foundation (2021-2022)
Funding: 15 lakhs
Co-Project Investigator: DST SATYAM Project on Consciousness Measures and Synchrony between Brain & Cardiovascular Dynamics in Yoga Experience – a multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary project between NIAS, IISc and NIMHANS – funded by Cognitive Science Research Initiative, DST, PI: Nithin Nagaraj (2018-2021)
Funding: 33.08 lakhs
Co-Project Investigator: “Examination of therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanisms of yoga treatment in schizophrenia”. Principal. Project Investigator: Naren Rao, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science, NIMHANS; (2016- 2019)

Past Projects:

2000

Project Investigator: A national project funded by Dept of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India on digital archiving of ancient manuscripts and establishing low cost digital archiving units at various institutions. The project was initiated at NIAS in April 2000 jointly with Ministry of Culture, and Dept. of Science and Technology (Govt. of India) on the setting up of digital archives in National Museum, Delhi, National Archives, Delhi, Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad and Kancheepuram Mutt Library, and Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Visva Mahavidyalaya, Kanchi. Co.Investigator: Prof. Prabhakar G.Vaidya; Chief Advisor: Prof. B.V. Sreekantan

1998
Project Investigator: Novel Methods in Digitisation of Manuscripts and Graphic Designing – a pilot project on “Digital Copying and Publishing of Ancient Manuscripts” supported by Infosys Ltd. and completed in April 1998. A CD-ROM, containing the samples of copied manuscripts and paintings, was digitally published in continuation with this project. Novel, Cost-effective Methods of Archiving Manuscripts the first version of this paper was published as a NIAS Report and released by K.R. Narayanan, the President of India, in 1998.
1998
Project Investigator: Co-Organiser with Prof.B.V.Sreekantan, of the First National Conference on “Scientific and Philosophical Studies on Consciousness” held from 8-13 February 1999 at National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc. Campus, Bangalore, supported by Dept. of Science and Technology, Dept. of Biotechnology and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.

Research Supervision

Doctoral Scholars

Co-Supervisor for:
Aneesha Sharma (Registered with IIT-Mumbai, Dept of Industrial Design). Degree awarded in 2012 by IIT-Mumbai
Doctoral Thesis – The phenomenon of ‘letting go’ in visual artists and designers (creativity studies)
Supervisor for:
Lakshmi Kutchibotla – Degree awarded in 2015 (Dept of Psychology, Mysore University)
Doctoral Thesis – Self and Wellbeing: A qualitative approach with focus on the Mahabharata.
Supervisor for:
Sabina Sweta Sen, Exeter University – Doctoral degree awarded in 2015 (University of Exeter, UK)
Doctoral Thesis: Sense, Essence and Body in Oddissi dance.
Supervisor for:
Namitha Kumar – Degree awarded in 2016 (Dept of Psychology, Mysore University)
Doctoral Thesis: A Study of Subjectivity and Selfhood in the Context of Subjects with Physical Disabilities: A Theoretical Approach
Supervisor for:
Shankar Rajaraman (MBBS) – Degree awarded in 2019 (Dept of Psychology, Mysore University)
Thesis: Self-conscious Emotions and Indian Psychology
Supervisor for:
Siddharth S – Degree awarded in 2020 (Dept of Philosophy, Mysore University)
Doctoral Thesis: Metaphysics of Conscious Experience
Supervisor for:
Meera Kumar Menon – 4th year (2021)
Doctoral Thesis: Word and Will: A Study of Kerala Mantravada tradition.
Niharika Sharma- 4th year (2021)
Doctoral Thesis: Parāsamvit and Pratyabhijñā: An Onto-Epistemic Enquiry in Kashmir Shaivism

Research Associates

Supervisor for: Amrutha MK
Registered with Trans-disciplinary University (TDU) as Doctoral Scholar
Doctoral Thesis Topic: A Theoretical Study of Two Ethnic Performances – Tirayattam and Sarpamthullal: Interpretations using Dhvani Theory
Supervisor for: Rakesh Kumar
Registered with Trans-disciplinary University (TDU) as Doctoral Scholar
Doctoral Thesis Topic: Indigenous knowledge of healing among the tribes of Nilambur Valley: A study of cross-cultural landscape across ethnic boundaries.
Supervisor for: Prashanth Noorjet
Research Assistant (2018-2019)
Topic: Cultural psychology and Ritual arts of Kerala
Supervisor for: PD Satish Chandra
Research Associate & Documentation Specialist (2018-2019)
Supervisor for: Pushpalatha Gowda
Project Assistant (2018-2019)

Post-Doctoral Associates

Supervisor for:
Dr Gagan Deep Kaur, 2015-2016
Topic: Investigation of the cognitive properties of a cryptographic system, called, talim, used in Kashmiri-carpet designing.
Supervisor for:
Dr VK Deepa Nambiar, 2018-2019
Topic: Collecting Individual Narratives of Indigenous Healers and Healing Practices from Kasargod and Kannur districts of Kerala
Supervisor for:
Dr Shankar Rajaraman, 2018-2022
Topic: The Interface of Pratyabhijñā Philosophy, Rasa Aesthetics, and Kashmir Kāvya literature
Supervisor for:
Dr Saurabh Todariya
Topic: Transcendence and Embodiment in Martin Heidegger and Kashmiri Shaivism, 2019-2021

Research Interns (recent)

Runita Shirdankar from Sophia College, Mumbai. Topic: Freewill, Philosophy and Brain studies. 2017
Bhavna Rawat from “Teach for India programme, Delhi”. Topic: Using Narratives as tool of instruction. 2017
Anusha Rao from University of Hyderbad . Topic: Satire on Religion in Sanskrit literature. 2016
Lakshmi Pillai from Cognitive Science Centre at IIT Gandhinagar. Topic: Nature of Experience and Literary narratives. 2016
Andrew Korah from Christ University. Topic: Self and personal identity in science fiction movies. 2016
Sr. Ann Maria from Christ University. Topic: Poetry on Nature and Elements of Transcendence. 2016
Karthikeyan Palaniswamy from IIT-Gandhinagar Cognitive Sciences Centre) Topic: Self in Rubber hand illusion experiments. 2016
Adityanarayan Ravishankar (MA, Delhi University). Topic: Self as process and the existential lack. 2016
Jillian Katz from Brain and Cognitive sciences Programme, MIT. Topic: Inner speech and introspection as ways to access thought. 2016
Pallavi Verma from Christ University. Topic: ESP and common misperceptions. 2015
Meera Kumar from Christ University. Topic: Desire and Self –Representation: A psychosocial study of the Malayalam novelette ‘Agnisakshi’. 2014

NIAS Mani Bhaumik Short Term Fellows

Geetha Anand
Topic: Body, Self and Consciousness in Tamil Siddha Philosophy
Oct. 2014 – Dec. 2014
Outcome: Paper published (2017) in International Journal of Dharma Studies
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40613-016-0045-5
Sathya Narayana Sharma
Topic: Desire, Emotions and Self: A philosophical study of the psychology of autism
Aug. 2014 – Nov. 2014
Outcome: A theoretical essay/report based on literature review was completed.
Pravesh Parekh
(Supervised along with Dr John P John, NIMHANS)
Topic: Study of Altered Self-consciousness in Schizophrenia using a Connectionist approach
Dec. 2014 – Jan. 2015, Aug. 2015 – Oct. 2015
Outcome: Report Submitted to NIAS, and also to a Journal.
Study results presentation selected for international conference on “Brain informatics and health”, October 2016, Nebraska
Pankaj Taylor
(Supervised along with Dr V V Binoy, NIAS and Sandhya M, NIMHANS)
Topic: The impact of mild and moderate stroke and head injury on the Autobiographical memory and the Self. Mar. – Jul. 2015
Outcome: 1 journal paper, 3 conference papers

Supervision as Evaluator/External Examiner for Doctoral Theses (recent)
External examiner for: Srisrividhya Kalyanaraman, Transdisciplinary University, for a degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2021
Doctoral Thesis: The Porous Self – Crafting an Intrinsic Ecological Consciousness through Text, Image and Movement, Supervised by Geetha Narayanan Founder of Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology, and currently named Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology

External Examiner for: Themistoklis I. Pentakalos, Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, for a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development. 2009
Doctoral Thesis – Illuminating the non-dual self through the writings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj
External Examiner, Doctoral Thesis, “Bhakti poetry through a reading of four women mystics and in the larger context of understanding body and consciousness”, Uma Ramakrishnan, Institute of English, Kerala University (Trivandrum). 2015
Chairman for conducting the Open defence of Smt Uma Ramakrishnan.
“Narrating Consciousness in the Bhakti Repertoire with focus on four women mystics – Andal, Akka Mahadevi, Lalleshwari and Bahina Bai of the Bhakti continuum”. Institute of English, Kerala University (Trivandrum). 26 Nov 2015
“Expert Review” on the Doctoral Thesis synopsis of Rajani Anand on “Impact of the Bhagavad Gita on Leadership, Communication, Motivation & Decision making (L-CMD) Processes in the Corporate World”. Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, Rajasthan, 2016
External Examiner, “An Analytical Study of Contemporary Spiritual Movements Lessons for Corporate and Social Transformation”, Gauri Anand. Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, Rajasthan, 2014

Courses Taught (Recent)

Building and Experiencing Knowledge: Transdisciplinarity as a Method for Imaginative and Reflective Engagement in Research, Module for the TDU Course on Transdisciplinarity and Collective Knowledge Frameworks (A course offered for the PhD and MSc research students of TDU), The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, 7 August 2021
Building and Experiencing Knowledge: Narrative building and its role in Transdisciplinary research, Module for the TDU Course on – Transdisciplinarity and Collective Knowledge Frameworks (A course offered for the PhD and MSc research students of TDU), The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, 9 August 2021

Sanskrit Language and its Traditions: A Journey through its History and Contemporaneity – Online International Lecture series, 20 January to 28 April, 2021
Concept: Sangeetha Menon. Primary Instructors: Madhav Deshpande, David Shulman, Patrick Olivelle, Richard Salomon, Dominik Wujastyk, Diwakar Acharya, Mark McClish, Amba Kulkarni, Stephen Philips and Arindam Chakrabarti.

“Philosophy, Self, and Consciousness: Exploring the Context of Experience”
8 February to 7 June 2021. 2 Credits.
Primary Course Instructors: Prof. Bhagat Oinam (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Dr. Ram Manohar (Amrita University, Kollam), Dr. G. G. Gangadharan (Ramaiah Ayurveda Hospital, Bengaluru), Dr. Arima Mishra (Azim Premji University, Bengaluru), Dr. Suhas Kumar Shetty (SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan), Dr. Unnikrishnan P (United Nations University, Malaysia), Dr. Soumick De (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi), Dr. Prasenjit Biswas (North Eastern Hill University, Shillong), Dr. Manindra Thakur (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi), Prof. Sanil V (Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), Dr. Naren Rao (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru), Prof. Anup Dhar (Ambedkar University Delhi), and Dr Shankar Rajaraman, Dr Saurabh Todariya, Prof. Sangeetha Menon. Course Coordinator is Dr Pushya A Gautama (MD, Ayu)

This course focuses on interdisciplinary engagements on the conceptual frameworks needed for a student to study the constitution of human experience, and the place of self and consciousness. Experience, while being intensely personal, becomes a community phenomenon through social and community engagements. In both the contexts of individual and social experiences, the self lingers as the underlying connector between the individual and collective minds. How do we understand the complexity of experience from the viewpoint of a rich social process that contours itself? Can we situate self and experience in philosophy, arts, social sciences, literature, and extend the insights from there to further explore experience from the perspectives of psychology and psychiatry? While health has emerged as the most discussed phenomenon in the COVID-19 times, how do we understand the experience of health? Is health and wellness differently conceived by Indian indigenous systems of medicine? This Course brought in various traditions and discourses on thinking and living, to reflect upon the fundamental meanings and contexts of experience, which in turn nourish a participative and reflective self. The Course is structured around six broad themes with selected sub-themes.

Modules offered by Sangeetha Menon for this Course:

31 May 2021- Autobiographical self – Reading the writer

Questions discussed:

How are self and memory related?
What is the self?
Is our writing autobiographical?
Can we write without the person we are, influencing the way we write?
What is the role of self-awareness?

Readings for the Class:

Autobiographical self – introduction https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/autobiographical-self

https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737833.001.0001/acprof-9780199737833

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09658211.2016.1221115?journalCode=pmem20

The Relationship Between Autobiographical Self-Focus And Memory Specificity/Overgenerality: Differences Between Individuals With And Without A Diagnosis Of Depression – https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/3440/344043462008.pdf

The Autobiographical Self: Phenomenology and the Limits of Narrative Self-Possession in Anne Carson’s Autobiography of Red – https://muse.jhu.edu/article/218758/summary

The Self in Performance: Autobiographical, Self-Revelatory, and Autoethnographic Forms of Therapeutic Theatre – https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137541536

Telling the story of the self/deconstructing the self of the story – http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00003019.htm

Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary – https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691009483/apparitions-of-the-self

Autobiography, Autobiographicality, and Self-Representation-https://victorianweb.org/genre/autobiography/2.html

Know Thyself: The Autobiographical Nature of Writing – https://crosswaysmagazine.com/2018/03/04/know-thyself-the-autobiographical-nature-of-writing/

Finding an “I” in Indian Literature – https://catapult.co/stories/finding-an-i-in-indian-literature-writing-the-self-authorship-dipti-anand

Narrative and Identity : Studies in Autobiography, Self, and Culture – http://armytage.net/pdsdata/%5BJens_Brockmeier,_Donal_A._Carbaugh%5D_Narrative_and(Book4You).pdf

(and specifically the last Summary chapter – From substance to story Narrative, identity, and the reconstruction of the self)

Guidelines for Quality in Autobiographical Forms of Self-Study Research

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3594469

7 June 2021 – Character and Characters: Building Narratives

Questions discussed:

Who is a character?
How clear is the divide between the scene and the scene-maker?
What insights do we derive from the Italian play by Luigi Pirandello: “Six Characters in Search of an Author”
What is real, and imaginative?
If the division is blurred, how do we account for agency and ownership?
And then, whose narrative it is?
How to present a powerful narrative in your writing?

Readings for the Class

Literary Theory (or Critical Theory) – https://iep.utm.edu/literary/

Literary Criticism – https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp2kscopex92x2/chapter/what-is-literary-criticism/

Five Types of Context in Reading – http://mason.gmu.edu/~rnanian/305context.html

Six Characters in search of an Author – https://www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/playtext-overview?docid=do-9781408164211&tocid=do-9781408164211-div-00000003

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Six-Characters-in-Search-of-an-Author/authors-preface-summary/

A Psychoanalytic Study of Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author – https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1177/000306516201000407

Metatheater: Illusion and Reality in Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author – https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/b7c7c7d7618313a5

A Crucial Collaboration: Reader-Writer-Character-Book – https://www.pw.org/content/crucial_collaboration_readerwritercharacterbook

On “Seeing Yourself” in Literature – https://www.offthebeatenshelf.com/blog/seeing-yourself

Personality and Individual Differences: Literature in Psychology; Psychology in Literature – https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82271267.pdf

Research Writing and Communication Course (2 Credits), Primary Instructors: Prof Sangeetha Menon and Dr Madhurima Das, Coordinators: Meera Kumar Menon, Dr Pushya A Gautama, and Niharika Sharma. 2 February 2021 to 4 May 2021, Total No. of Classes: 14.

Modules by Sangeetha Menon

18/05/2021 – Time: 11.00 a.m to 01.00 p.m.

Class 14: Module 7- “Writing the Reader – Traversing through words and the magic between them”

Abstract:

Writing is a solitary physical and mental act according to most of us which come from an individual person who exercises agency and authorship. Have we thought about how writing includes the Reader’s self? Writing is almost an act of transcendence like in artistic outpourings. What is written is a representation of the reader’s mind and the author’s spokespersonship. A good writer sees and believes in the other, and from that belief, the trust that ensues to accommodate the porous selves of the readers to get into the magic space between the words the author weaves. To be a good writer, whether that be an academic work or even a blog piece, what is important is the hope that the writer entrusts the reader to make un-written words enlivened by the reader’s mind. This lecture module will use excerpts of select texts and visuals to give a phenomenological experience of writing and reading.

Guided Exercises During the Class:

Read the Image
Image the Text
Write the Reader

Course CSP-1-2: Conceptual Mathematics for Cognitive Neuroscience (1 credit, 2015). Course Instructor and Concept: Venkat Rayudu

Course CSP-2-3: Computation and Cognition: An Introduction (2 credits, 2015) Course Instructor and Concept: Lalit Patnaik
Course CSP-2-4: Brain, Self and Cognition: Building Concepts & Frameworks (2 credits, 2015) Course Instructor and Concept: Sangeetha Menon and Gagan Deep Kaur

Narratives, Stories and Story-telling: A discussion on Upanishads
An online (Skype) monthly course for overseas students (2010-11)
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Guest Lectures as part of Course run by Centre for Research, Christ University for its Doctoral scholars (March, 2011)
a. Qualitative approaches for Research in Psychology and Mental Health
b. Consciousness studies and Interdisciplinarity in Research
Humanistic Psychology and Classics (2009) – 3credit course
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Humanities Course 3 lectures (taught for 9 hrs):
i. Body (Food) in Indian psychology and philosophy
ii. Emotions and Patanjali Yogasutra
iii. Self in Prasna Upanishad
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Indian psychology – lecture for Foundation Course, NIAS doctoral students (Fall, 2009). National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Menon, 2011. Communicating an Idea, Communicating an Image
Designed and conducted Workshop on Communication at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 6-7 September 2011
“Communicating an Idea, Communicating a Visual” – Workshop on Communication for Doctoral students, 29-30 October 2009, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Wellbeing – in Mahabharata and Positive psychology, Guided Reading and Writing Course, (Oct-Dec 2010). National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore

Recent Conference and Seminar Thematic notes (recent)

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Desire, Life purpose and the Altruistic self: A discussion on Indian philosophy. International Seminar on “Altruism, Wellbeing and Purpose: Vantage views on Planetary life, and its meaning from Biology, Indian philosophy and the Arts, National Institute of Advanced Studies, 1 February 2018

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Minds and Machines: Debates on the nature of intelligence and experience. Introduction, Seminar at National Institute of Advanced Studies, 27 December 2017. http://niasconsciousnesscentre.com/B/Events/mindandmachinesDec2017.html

Sangeetha Menon, Altruism Wellbeing and Purpose: Vantage views on planetary life and its meaning from Biology, Indian philosophy and the Arts, Feb 2018, http://niasconsciousnesscentre.com/B/Events/altruism-1Feb2018.html

Sangeetha Menon (2018). That which Melts the Heart, but still has a Reason: A First person Approach to Emotions and the Self in the Natyasastra. Seminar on Beyond the Rasa theory, Co-organised by National Institute of Advanced Studies, and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts-SRC. NIAS Lecture Hall, 8 December 2017

Sangeetha Menon and Deepti Navaratna, Beyond the Rasa Theory: A One Day Seminar on New Directions in Understanding the Natyasastra, 8 December 2017 http://niasconsciousnesscentre.com/beyond-rasa-seminar-2017.html

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Being What Is: Consciousness in Indian traditions”. First Indic Thoughts Festival 2017 from 17-18 Dec 2017, Grand Hyatt, Goa, organised by Indian Foundation, New Delhi.

Please Click here to Watch the Video

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Imagination and Knowledge Acquisition: Exploring the Creative Expressions of the Learning Mind. Chairperson’s introduction, ISME South Asia Regional Conference, JRD Tata Auditorium, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 28 November 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Body Narratives and the Self: Exploring Consciousness through the Experience-beholder. National Conference on “Culture, Design & Cognition” (CDC) 2017, organised by National Institute of Design (NID), Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts – Regional Centre Bangalore (IGNCA RCB) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 3 November 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Beyond Mind: The Self Narratives and the Body of our Times. International Conference on “The Fragmented Self: An Interdisciplinary Exploration into the Notions of Self & Identity in Contemporary Life”, Indraprastha College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 30-31 October 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Consciousness, Well-being and the Humanising Space. International Conference on ” Required Architectural Design Wisdom at Habitable Spaces”, Brindavan College of Architecture, Bangalore 3-4 October 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Distinguishing Concepts – Body, Mind and Consciousness. CSP Module for First Semester 2017 Foundation Course, NIAS PhD Programme “An Introduction to Mind, its Functions and Purpose”, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 11 August 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Body and the Self: A discussion on consciousness and healing. Cognitive Neuroscience (CNS) Forum – NIMHANS Lecture series, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 5 August 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Beyond the Binary: Consciousness and Causality. NIAS Wednesday lecture, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 26 July 2017

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Yoga, Self-reflection and Consciousness. Yoga Day celebration of Indian Institute of Science, Faculty Hall, 21 June 2017. http://mhrd.gov.in/IDY/docs/iisc.pdf

Sangeetha Menon (2018). Mental Health and Managing Life Stress, Chief Guest’s Lecture on the occasion of International Women’s day function, Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), DRDO, Cochin, 8 March 2017

Sangeetha Menon, Imagination and Knowledge Acquisition: Exploring The Creative Expressions Of The Learning Mind, ISME International Conference Panel Discussion thematic note.

NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme Interinstitutional Brainstorming Meeting -1, For the Agenda Paper on “Charting the Path for the Future of Consciousness Studies in India”, 17 November 2017

Publications & Books

Single-authored Books

Sangeetha Menon, 2014. Brain, Self and Consciousness: Explaining the conspiracy of experience, Springer Science & Business Media.

Sangeetha Menon, The Beyond Experience, BlueJay Books, New Delhi, 2007

Sangeetha Menon, Binding Experiences: Looking at the Contributions of Adi Sankaracarya, Tunceth Ezutacchan and Sri Narayana Guru in the Context of Recent Discussions on Consciousness Studies”, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 2002

Edited Books

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Consciousness and the Self
Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Anindya Sinha, BV Sreekantan (Springer, 2014)

Self, Culture and Consciousness: Interdisciplinary Convergences on Knowing and Being. Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Nithin Nagaraj, Binoy VV (Springer NATURE, 2017)

Public Risk Perception
Eds. Malavika Kapur, Dilip Ahuja, Sangeetha Menon, NIAS, Bangalore, SP3-2013

Nature and Culture
Roddam Narasimha and Sangeetha Menon, Centre for Studies in Civilisations & Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi, 2011 (542 pages)
With an Introductory Chapter (pp 3-44) and an Epilogue (491-494)

“Dialogues: Philosopher meets the seer”
Sangeetha Menon and Swami Bodhananda, Srishti Publishers, New Delhi, 2002

Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing: Perspectives from Science, Philosophy and the Arts. Editor. Sangeetha Menon, National Institute Of Advanced Studies 2006

The Great Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004: An overview of a national disaster
Editor, National Institute Of Advanced Studies 2006

Science and Beyond: Cosmology, consciousness and technology in Indic traditions
Editors. Sangeetha Menon, B.V.Sreekantan, Anindya Sinha, Philip Clayton and R Narasimha
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2004

Science and Metaphysics: A discussion on consciousness and genetics
Editors. Sangeetha Menon, M.G.Narasimhan, Anindya Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2002

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, From Shelves to Digital Media: On digital archiving and publication, R1-2002, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2002

Scientific and Philosophical Studies on Consciousness
Editors. Sangeetha Menon, M.G.Narasimhan, Anindya Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 1999

Journal Papers

Sangeetha Menon, Meera Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Beyond Body-Mind: Self-narratives and Consciousness, 64, 266–274 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00519-w

Sangeetha Menon, Shankar Rajaraman, & Lakshmi Kuchibotla (2018). Wellbeing and Self-transformation in Indian Psychology. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 37(1), https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2018.37.1.13

Geetha Anand and Sangeetha Menon, (2017) Body, Self and Consciousness according to Tirumūlar’s Tirumandiram: A comparative study with Kashmir Śaivism. International Journal of Dharma Studies 5:3. DOI 10.1186/s40613-016-0045-5

Naren Rao and Sangeetha Menon. (2016) A heuristic model linking yoga philosophy and self-reflection to examine underlying mechanisms of add on yoga treatment in schizophrenia. International Review of Psychiatry, Issue 2, 2016, pp. 265-272. DOI:10.1080/09540261.2016.1194259

Sangeetha Menon (2016). The ‘Outer Self’ and the ‘Inner Body’: Exteriorization of the Self in Cognitive Sciences. Journal of Human Values January 2016 vol. 22: pp 39-45, DOI. 10.1177/0971685815608062

Meera Kumar and Sangeetha Menon (2016) Desire and self-representation: A philosophical reading of the Malayalam novelette “Agnisakshi”. Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 33 (2). pp. 303-314. DOI. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40961-016-0060-z

Sangeetha Menon. Body-sense and the Somatic markers: Emotions in consciousness studies. Samyukta: A Journal of Women’s Studies, January 2016. Vol. 16.1. Special issue on Theories of Affect. Guest Editor: Sneja Gunew. pp. 50-68

Sangeetha Menon (2016). Self and Emotions in Bhakti. Journal of Indian Psychology, Vol30, Nos. 1&2, 2016, pp. 32-39

Shankar Rajaraman & Sangeetha Menon (2015). The Theory of Emotions in Sanskrit Poetics and its Implications for Psychiatric Practice. Journal of Indian Psychology, vol. 29, nos. 1 & 2, pp. 34-44

Sangeetha Menon, 2007, Basics of ‘Spiritual Altruism’, The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 39:2, pp.137-152

Sangeetha Menon, 2006, What is Indian Psychology: Transcendence in and while Thinking, The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 37(5): 83-98

Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Experience of _Expression: Instances from Indian dramaturgy and a discussion on ‘consciousness’ Leonardo Electronic Almanac Volume 13, Number 9, September 2005 h p://lea.mit.edu, The MIT Press

Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Understanding the ‘what’ and ‘where’ of consciousness: Revisiting the Bhagavad Gita to ask a few more questions, Omega: Indian Journal of Science and Religion, IV(2): 88-99

Heal Thy Spirit, Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Heritage Amruth, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Vol1. pp 38-40

Narasimha, Sangeetha Menon, Papiya Bhattacharya and M. B. Rajani, 2005, Six months after the tsunami, Current Science, 89(9-10): 1459-1461

Sangeetha Menon, 2003, Getting digital manuscripts: New technologies for digital preservation and publication, The Indian Archives, Special Number: Information Technology and Preservation, National Archives of India, XLIX(1-2): 41-44

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, Research Brief (on consciousness and self-exploration in Indian thought), Meet the Researcher series, The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 34(1): 67-71

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, The Selfish Meme and the Selfless Atma, Sophia: International journal for philosophy of religion, metaphysical theology and ethics, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 41(1): 83-88

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, Structure of Mind and Structured Mind, Indian Philosophical Quarterly, 29(2-3): 334-344
http://www.unipune.ac.in/snc/cssh/ipq/english/IPQ/26-30%20volumes/29-2&3/PDF/29-2&3-13.pdf

Sangeetha Menon, 1999, Novel, Cost-effective Methods of Archiving Manuscripts Current Science, Vol.76, No.10, May 1999

Sangeetha Menon, 1998, The ontological pragmaticity of Karma in the Bhagavad Gita, Journal of Indian Psychology, Andhra University, January 1998

Book Chapters

Sangeetha Menon, Pushya A Gautama and Saurabh Todariya, “Post-COVID world and the New Humanism: intersections of wellness, philosophy and technology”, In: COVID 19 Pandemic: History, Science and Society, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India, and Indian Council of Medical Research, 2021, pp 140-151

Sangeetha Menon. Self and Transformative Experiences: Three Indian Philosophers on Consciousness. In: Interdisciplinary perspectives on Consciousness and the Self, Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Anindya Sinha, BV Sreekantan, Springer, 2013

Lakshmi K & Sangeetha Menon, Self and Empathy, In: Interdisciplinary perspectives on Consciousness and the Self, Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Anindya Sinha, BV Sreekantan, Springer, 2014

Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Altruism – Renouncing the Renunciant: A Discussion on Desire and Selflessness In: Altruism in Cross-cultural Perspective, Ed. Doug Wakoch, (International and Cultural Psychology, Series Ed. Anthony Marsella). Springer, pp 113-122

Namitha Kumar & Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Adapted Self in the Context of Disability: An Ecological, Embodied Perspective, In: Interdisciplinary perspectives on Consciousness and the Self, Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Anindya Sinha, BV Sreekantan, Springer, 2014

Sangeetha Menon, Nithin Nagaraj, Binoy V.V. (2017) Bridging Self, Culture and Consciousness. In: Menon S., Nagaraj N., Binoy V. (eds) Self, Culture and Consciousness. Springer, Singapore, pp 1-19

John J.P., Parekh P., Halahalli H.N., Menon S., Kutty B.M. (2017) Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia: A Model for Aberrant Self-consciousness. In: Menon S., Nagaraj N., Binoy V. (eds) Self, Culture and Consciousness. Springer, Singapore, pp 123-149

Sangeetha Menon. (2017) Body and Self-reflection: The Crux of Yoga Philosophy and Practice. In: Menon S., Nagaraj N., Binoy V. (eds) Self, Culture and Consciousness. Springer, Singapore, pp. 151-164

Binoy V.V., Vashishta I., Rathore A., Menon S. (2017) Autobiographical Memory: Where Self, Wellbeing and Culture Congregate. In: Menon S., Nagaraj N., Binoy V. (eds) Self, Culture and Consciousness. Springer, Singapore, pp.179-189

Siddharth S., Sangeetha Menon. (2017) What Does It Mean for Qualia to be Intrinsic?. In: Menon S., Nagaraj N., Binoy V. (eds) Self, Culture and Consciousness. Springer, Singapore, pp.403-417

Menon, S, 2011, Brain, Self, and Consciousness: Emerging Perspectives in Mental Health, In: Handbook of psychology in India, Oxford University Press, pp 36-45

Sangeetha Menon, 2011, Brain-challenged Self and Self-challenged Brain: The central impasse in consciousness studies, In: Brain Science and Kokoro: Asian Perspectives on Science and Religion, Nanzan Institute of Religion and Culture, Nagoya, Japan pp. 79-120

Sangeetha Menon, 2011, ‘A first-person approach to aesthetic emotions in Natyasastra’, in Narasimha R. and Menon S. Eds., Nature and Culture, New Delhi: Centre for Studies in Civilizations and Munishram Manoharlal Publishers, pp. 259-270

Sangeetha Menon, 2011, Movement, continuity and mystic symbolism: The science of Hindu art. Asian Geographic, No.82, Issue 5, pp. 68-70

Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Reason, Emotion and Wellbeing: An understanding of consciousness, In: Psychology and Psychoanalysis, (Vol XIII and Part 3 of History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilisation series) Ed. Girishwar Mishra, Centre for Studies in Civilisations and Munshiram Manoharlal Publications, New Delhi, pp 387-402

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Dialogues on Brain Sciences and Religion
In: Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture Bulletin: 34.8-76

Menon, 2010, The Concept of Consciousness
In: Indian Culture: Encyclopaedic Survey; Science and Society Eds. Jaikishandas Sadani and Bithaldas Mundra, Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Bikaner, pp.316-337

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Cognitive and Experiential Foundations of Consciousness and ‘Spiritual agency’ In: History and Philosophy of Science PHISPC-CONSSAVY / Volume 8, Part VI, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Ed. Pradip Kumar Sengupta, General Editor: DP Chattopadhyaya, pp 685-694

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, Persistent Puzzles of Consciousness: What is it? Where is it?
In: Understanding Consciousness – Recent Advances, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, pp178-192

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, The Puzzle of Consciousness and Experiential Primacy: Agency in Cognitive Sciences and Spiritual Experiences , In: Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, Ed. Pranab Das, Templeton Press, pp.3-20

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, The Rain clouds of Mind-Modifications and the Shower of Transcendence: Yoga and Samadhi in Patanjali Yoga Sutra , In: Yoga and Parapsychology: Empirical Research and Theoretical Essays, Ed. Ramakrishna Rao, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, pp. 169-199

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, Commentary on In defence of an Indian approach to the psychology of emotion by Anand C. Paranjpe, Psychological Studies, 54.1

Introduction [Chapter 1 of Nature and Culture] – pp 3-44, Nature and Culture
Roddam Narasimha and Sangeetha Menon (Eds.), Project on the History of Science, Philosophy and Culture, Centre for Studies in Civilisations and Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi, 2011, 542 pages.

Epilogue [Chapter 25 of Nature and Culture] – pp 491-494, Nature and Culture
Roddam Narasimha and Sangeetha Menon (Eds.), Project on the History of Science, Philosophy and Culture, Centre for Studies in Civilisations and Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi, 2011, 542 pages.

Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Altruism – Renouncing the Renunciant: A Discussion on Desire and Selflessness, In: Altruism in Cross-cultural Perspective, Ed. Doug Wakoch, (International and Cultural Psychology, Series Ed. Anthony Marsella). Springer, pp 113-122

Lakshmi, K. Sangeetha Menon, 2011, The implications of sthitaprajñatva in the context of self and psychological well-being: A character study from the Mahabharata. Indian Journal of Health and Well-being, 2(5), Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare, ISSN -2229-5356 pp. 960-963.

Menon S, Lakshmi K, Mariyammal VB, 2012, Eds. Looking Within: Interdisciplinary approaches to consciousness,Conference Reader, National Institute of Advanced Studies.

Sangeetha Menon, 2011, Movement, continuity and mystic symbolism: The science of Hindu art. Asian Geographic, No.82, Issue 5, pp. 68-70

Sangeetha Menon, 2011, Brain-challenged Self and Self-challenged Brain: The central impasse in consciousness studies. In: Brain Science and Kokoro: Asian Perspectives on Science and Religion, Nanzan Institute of Religion and Culture, Nagoya, Japan pp. 79-120

Menon, S, 2011, Brain, Self, and Consciousness: Emerging Perspectives in Mental Health
In: Handbook of Psychology in India, Oxford University Press, pp 36-45

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Dialogues on Brain Sciences and Religion
In: Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture Bulletin: 34.8-76, 2010

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, Commentary on In defence of an Indian approach to the psychology of emotion, Anand C. Paranjpe, Psychological Studies, 54.1

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, The Puzzle of Consciousness and Experiential Primacy: Agency in Cognitive Sciences and Spiritual Experiences
In: Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, Ed. Pranab Das, Templeton Press, pp.3-20

Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Reason, Emotion and Wellbeing: An understanding of consciousness. In: Psychology and Psychoanalysis, (Vol XIII and Part 3 of History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilisation series, Ed. Girishwar Mishra, Centre for Studies in Civilisations and Munshiram Manoharlal Publications, New Delhi, pp 387-402

Sangeetha Menon, 2013, Risk Perception and the Sense of Security: A Humanities Approach
In: Public Risk Perception, Eds. Malavika Kapur, Dilip Ahuja, Sangeetha Menon, NIAS, Bangalore, SP3-2013, pp. 11-24

Menon, 2011, Guest Editor, Consciousness and Leadership Special issue, IBA (Indian Business Academy) Journal of Management and Leadership, Vol. 2 Issue 1

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Brain-challenged self and Self-challenged brain, Working Paper, National Institute of Advanced Studies, 2010.

Menon, 2010, The Concept of Consciousness, In: Indian Culture: Encyclopaedic Survey; Science and Society Eds. Jaikishandas Sadani and Bithaldas Mundra, Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Bikaner, pp.316-337

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, Persistent Puzzles of Consciousness: What is it? Where is it? In: Understanding Consciousness – Recent Advances, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, pp. 178-192

Sangeetha Menon, 2009, The Rain clouds of Mind-Modifications and the Shower of Transcendence: Yoga and Samadhi in Patanjali Yoga Sutra In: Yoga and Parapsychology: Empirical Research and Theoretical Essays, Ed. Ramakrishna Rao, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, pp. 169-199

Sangeetha Menon, 2008, Transpersonal Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita: Consciousness, Meditation, Work and Love In Handbook of Indian Psychology, Cambridge University Press, Eds. K Ramakrishna Rao, Anand Paranjpe and Ajit Dalal, pp.186-216

Sangeetha Menon, 2006, Advaita Vedanta, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy , General editors: James Fieser & Bradley Dowden, www.iep.utm.edu/a/adv-veda.htm

Sangeetha Menon, 2007, Hinduism and Science, In The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science, Oxford University Press, Cambridge, Eds. Philip Clayton & Zachory Simpson, pp 7-23

Sangeetha Menon, 2006, Basics of Consciousness, In Consciousness, Society and Values, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Ed. AV Afonso, pp.27-37

Sangeetha Menon, 2006, The puzzle of experiential primacy and consciousness, In Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing, National Institute Of Advanced Studies, proceedings of the conference by the same title sponsored by the Templeton Foundation programme on Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, pp 218-228

Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Self and self-transcendences in the Bhagavad Gita, In: Self, Society and Science: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives Vol XI Part 2 of ‘History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, New Delhi, Ed. DP Chattopadhyaya, pp 217-229

Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Being and wellbeing in the Upanishadic literature, In: Towards a spiritual psychology Delhi: Samvad India Foundation, Eds. K Ramakrishna Rao, & Sonali Bha Marwaha, pp. 72-96.

Sangeetha Menon, 2004, Beyond what and what is beyond? In: Science and Beyond: Consciousness, cosmology and technology in Indic traditions, Eds. S. Menon, , A.Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan, R Narasimha and Philip Clayton, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2004, pp 185-190

Sangeetha Menon, 2004 , Experience of Expression: Instances from Indian dramaturgy and a discussion on ‘consciousness’ h p://mitpress2.mit.edu/e-journals/Leonardo

Sangeetha Menon, 2003, Being Free: ‘Consciousness’ and ‘freedom’ according to the Bhagavad Gita, In: ‘Applications of oriental philosophical thought in mental health’, Ed JP Balodhi, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, NIMHANS Publication No 47, pp 43-49

Sangeetha Menon, 2003, Binding experiences for a first person approach: Looking at Indian ways of thinking (darsana) and acting (natya) in the context of current discussions on ‘consciousness’, In: On Mind and Consciousness, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla and Department of Humanities and Social Sciences IIT Kharagpur, Eds. Chhanda Chakraborti, Manas K Mandal and Rimi B Cha erjee, pp 90-117

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, The ontological pragmaticity of karma in the Bhagavad Gita: A mind to meditate and the meditative mind, In: Perspectives on Indigenous Psychology, Advances in Psychological Research in India – Series 3, Centre of Advanced Study in Psychology, Utkal University and Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, Eds. G Mishra and A K Mohanty, pp 326-338

Sangeetha Menon, 2001, Towards a Sankarite approach to consciousness studies: A discussion in the context of recent interdisciplinary scientific perspectives, Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 18(1): 95-111

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, Beside the intender and the integrator”: Looking at two “faces” of consciousness, In: Science and Metaphysics: A Discussion on Consciousness and Genetics, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, Eds. S Menon, A Sinha and B V Sreekantan, pp. 164-177

Sangeetha Menon, 2002, Binding Experiences for a First-Person Approach: Looking at Indian Ways of Thinking (darsana) and Acting (natya) in the Context of Current Discussions on ‘Consciousness’, WP1-2002, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2002

Sangeetha Menon, 2001, Beside two faces of consciousness: Looking at the ‘intentor’ and the ‘integrator’, In: Consciousness and its transformations, Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Education, Pondicherry, Ed. Ma hijs Cornelissen, pp 295-306

Sangeetha Menon, 2001, The ontological pragmaticity of karma in the Bhagavad Gita: A mind to meditate and the meditative mind. In: Perspectives on indigenous psychology, eds. G Mishra and A K Mohanty, Advances in Psychological Research in India-series 3, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, 2001

Sangeetha Menon, 1999, Understanding the ‘what’ and ‘where’ of Consciousness: Revisiting the Bhagavad Gita to ask a few more questions, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore

Sangeetha Menon, 1997, Concepts of consciousness and materiality in Bhagavad Gita, Encyclopaedia of Indian Culture, Vol. 8.on Science and Society, Bharatiya Samskrti Samsad, Calcutta

Encyclopedia papers

Sangeetha Menon, Consciousness and Cognition. In Oxford Bibliographies in Hinduism. Ed. Alf Hiltebeitel. New York: Oxford University Press, July 2016. DOI: 10.1093/OBO/9780195399318-0171

Sangeetha Menon, Advaita Vedanta, In The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP)
https://iep.utm.edu/adv-veda/

Book Reviews and Essays

Review for “Brain, Self and Consciousness: Explaining the conspiracy of experience”, (2014). Brain, self and consciousness: Explaining the conspiracy of experience. New Delhi, India: Springer. ix + 214 pp. ISBN 978-81-322-1580-6, Hardcover, £90 (Approximately $129). Reviewed by Brian Les Lancaster. Springer 2014. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2014, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp.132-138 http://atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-46-14-01-000.pdf

A Response to Lancaster, B.L. (2014). Review of the book Brain, self, and consciousness: Explaining the conspiracy of experience, by S. Menon. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 46(1), 132-139 http://atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-46-14-02-000.pdf

Sangeetha Menon, and Lakshmi K. 2012. Review of “Human Development in the Indian Context: A Socio-cultural focus. Vol II by Margaret Khalakdina (New Delhi: Sage Publications). Current Science 102 (3): 503-504.

Sangeetha Menon, Review of “Gandhi and Applied Spirituality” by Ramakrishna Rao (Matrix Publishers 2011), Gitam Journal of Gandhian Studies, 1 (1): 210-217

Sangeetha Menon, 2010Introductory Essay on “Religion and Science” by Bertrand Russell http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=Religion%20and%20Science&ref=essays International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Introductory Essay on “Varieties of Religious Experiences” by William James http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=The%20Varieties%20of%20Religious%20Experience&ref=essays International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Sangeetha Menon, 2010, Introductory Essay on “Cross-cultural Studies on Consciousness” by K Ramakrishna Rao http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=Consciousness%20Studies:%20Cross-Cultural%20Perspectives&ref=essays International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Reviewed an anthology Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy: Studies in Comparative Religion, published in late 2012 by World Wisdom, compiled and edited by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos

Reviewer for [the international Journal of] of Philosophical Studies, Springer; Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, SAGE Publications

Book Review of Psychology of Human and Social Development: Lessons from Diverse Cultures Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Summerhill: IIAS Review Vol. X No.1 & 2, Sage Publications , Eds. John W Berry, RC Mishra and RS Tripathi, pp 95-98

Book Review of ‘Cit: Consciousness (Bina Gupta, 2003), Sangeetha Menon, 2005, Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, XXI.1 pp 279-287

Popular/Media publications (recent)

Sangeetha Menon, Mind matters: Exploring philosophical fundamentals of peace Commentary in Deccan Chronicle, September 11, 2017 (Page 13). http://www.deccanchronicle.com/decaf/100917/mind-matters-exploring-philosophical-fundamentals-of-peace.html

Leadership and Outreach Programmes

Conceptualized and Designed the following Meeting series for NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme:

Evening Philosophy Chat (EPC)
The Reading Glass
Svasthya-rasa-bodhini (along with Dr Shankar Rajaraman)
NIAS CSP Friday Lectures

Conferences and Meetings Organised:

International Seminar on Altruism, Wellbeing and Purpose from 1-2 February 2018, NIAS. Is altruism a fundamental aspect of life and living, and the universe? In almost all of wellbeing studies the two life traits that clearly emerge are ‘meaning’ and ‘purpose’. This international meeting jointly co-organised by METI and NIAS brought together biologists, mathematicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, economists, philosophers, physicians, and artists to dialogue on Altruism, Wellbeing and Purpose, presenting vantage views on Planetary life and its Meaning. http://niasconsciousnesscentre.org/B/Events/altruism-1Feb2018.html

Read Seminar Themes and Abstracts

“Consciousness, Cognition and Culture: Implications for the 21st Century” – An international Conference for researchers, scholars and students to discuss brain, self, cognition and consciousness, in December 2015. The Conference Programme focused on significant themes that have overarching implications for the humankind, its future and wellbeing. Please click here for Flyer and Conference Themes

Conference Photographs
Webcasts of Lectures
Pre-Conference Booklet published by NATURE India-
NATURE India Blog article – Please Click here
NIAS Conference Report – Please Click here

NIAS Training Programmes organised:

DST Course for Women Scientists in 2014
DST Course for Women Scientists in 2015
DST Course on Senior Scientist Administrators on “Policy for Science and Science for Policy” in 2016
DST Course on Senior Scientist Administrators on “Policy for Science and Science for Policy” in 2017
DST Course on Senior Scientist Administrators on “Policy for Science and Science for Policy” in 2018
Organised NIAS Wednesday Discussion Meetings”, since 1996 (until 2020)
Along with Dr K Kasturirangan, Coordinated and Organised the NIAS Course for Sr. Executives from public and private sector, titled Excellence in Leadership, from 2005 to 2009, NIAS JRD Tata Auditorium.
Co-ordinated the second NIAS Course for the probationers of Indian Foreign Service at National Institute of Advanced Studies, from 19 through 24 July 1999, on the theme “Culture, Economics and Environment in Diplomacy”.

Awards, Memberships, and Recognition (Recent)

Nominated Board Member

Board Member, International Association for Transpersonal Psychology (2009 to 2018)
Nominated Fellow, International Society for Science and Religion, Cambridge (2009 to current)
Coordinator from India for CS-DC UNESCO UniTwin international collaborative venture
Member, American Academy of Indic Studies (a new initiative that is being developed with several scholars from India covering humanities, social sciences and the arts)

Invited Committee Member

Task Force Member, CSRI – Cognitive Science Research Initiative, DST, Govt of India (2012 – to current)
Expert Member, Faculty selection committee for NISER Bhuvaneshwar, 25 June 2021
Council Member, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Government of India (2012-2016)
Committee Member, Institutional Committee for Human Ethics, Indian Inst of Science, Bangalore
Committee Member, Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research, Indian Inst of Science, Bangalore
Committee Member, Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research, JNCASR, Bangalore
Committee Member, Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research, NCBS-TIFR, Bangalore
Committee Member, Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research, Stempeutics, Manipal
Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad
Member of Committee constituted by Pondicherry University VC for Faculty appointment – Dept of Philosophy, 2019
Reviewer & Programme Committee Member – 2nd Annual Conference on Cognitive Science, 5-8 July 2015, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur
Review and Mentoring of Research Project proposal for Cognitive Science Research Initiative, DST: – Conceptual Frame work of Cognitive Poetics: A Study Based on Early Malayalam Poetry by Dr PM Girish, Dept. of Malayalam, University of Madras. 2019
UPSC mock Interview Committee member, Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai 2010 – to current

Distinguished Invitations

- Invited Panelist, World Parliament of Religions, Melbourne (2009)
- Invited Speaker, International Transpersonal Psychology Conference, Moscow, 2010
- University Extension Lecture, Aligarh Muslim University (2010)
- Valedictory Address, Indian Psychology Conference, Aligarh Muslim University (2010)
- Extension Lecture, Suvidya College Institute for Philosophy and Religion, Bangalore (2011)
- Chief Guest at the Convocation Programme of Presidency College, Bangalore (2011)
- Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (June 2013)

International Invitations

Shivadasani Fellow for the Trinity semester, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford University, Oxford
I was an Invited Panelist representing the ISSR (International Society for Science and Religion, Cambridge) for three panels on “Science, Spirituality and Environment” at the World Parliament of Religions, 3-6 December 2009, Melbourne, Australia. Panelists included Nobel prize winner for Medicine (1996), Dr Peter Doherty.
In 2009 I visited and gave invited lectures at Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Nanzan University, Nagoya Japan.
In 2010 I visited Moscow and was invited to participate in the Board Meeting of the International Board for Transpersonal Psychology and International Transpersonal Psychology Conference, Moscow.
Invited by Université Des Mascareignes, Mauritius, as “Visiting Professor” in October 2020.

Invited Advisory Roles

Advisor, METI International (2018 – to current)
Senior Expert in the Doctoral Committee of “Institute of Behavioral Science”, nominated by Director General of Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 2019.
Reviewer for the Consultative Meeting on Indian Psychology and Mental Health at NIMHANS organised by Department of Clinical Psychology in association with NIMHANS Integrated Center for Yoga, on 5 September 2017 at NIMHANS

Adjunct Positions

Honorary University Fellow, University of Exeter, UK
Adjunct Faculty, Gitam University, Andhra Pradesh
Visiting Faculty, Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai

Journal Editorial Board Member

Editorial member of Editorial Board of Science, Religion, and Society: An Interdisciplinary Journal, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Editorial Board member of American Journal of Indic studies
Editorial Board member of the Journal of Cultural cognitive Science Research (Springer-Nature)
Associate Editor of Tatva Journal of Philosophy

Past Recognitions

- - Swami Pranavaananda Philosophy Trust of India National Award ( one of the youngest recipients) for the best essay cum research paper in 1988.
  - M. Govindan Memorial Gold Medal for securing highest percentage of marks in M.A. Philosophy examination at State level in 1989.
  - Sundaram Memorial Prize for securing highest percentage of marks in M.A. Philosophy examination at State level in 1989.
  - Young Research Scholar National Award from Indian Council of Philosophical Research in 1993.
  - Rotary Trophy for Elocution in 1988, Kerala
  - World Environment Day Celebrations First prize in Elocution from Kerala State Pollution Control Board in 1988.
  - Best All Rounder Shield from Govt.Maharaja’s College for Women, Kerala in 1989.
  - Lioness Club of Trivandrum Prize in Quiz in 1992.
  - Numerous prizes and distinctions in college and state level in Quiz, Elocution, Essay writing, and other art competitions, from 1985 to 1990.
  - Young Research Scholar National Award from Indian Council of Philosophical Research in 1993.
  - Selection and Invitation from Indian Council of Philosophical Research for presentation of papers in 1991 and 1993.
  - Selection and Invitation from Indian Philosophical Congress for presentation of papers in 1990, 1993 and 1995
  - University Grants Commission national junior and senior fellowship for doctoral study from 1990 to 1995
  - Awarded the “Gita Puraskaram” by Bharatiya Vichara Kendra on 27th September 1998 for research studies done on Bhagavad Gita.
  - Honour and Felicitation from Bodhananda Seva Society, Kerala on 7th January 1999 for research studies done on Bhagavad Gita.

Conference Lectures and Invited Talks (Recent)

AI and Consciousness: Humanities and the Two Forces that Change our Lives, Lecture for International TCS groups, organised by TMTC (Tata Management Training Centre) as part of their series on “Unconventional Wisdom”, 2 September 2021

Philosophy – Method of Thinking, Panel discussant, Tell Me Your Story talk series finale on “Home-making the World, 20 September 2021

Contributed to the discussion meeting on Traditional Knowledge systems, a leadership meeting led by PMO office & CSIR – with IITs, NIAS and CSIR institutions, 21 June 2021

Basics of Philosophy: Knowledge, Self and Life-purpose”, ICPR Lecture, Govt (erstwhile “Maharaja’s”) College for Women, in Thiruvananthapuram, 14 February 2021. Lecture Video link: https://youtu.be/ZyusINulfhU
Maitri and Karuna – Two keywords from Patanjali’s Yogasutra and how they bridge “Theory of mind” and “Self-reflection”, Lecture at the international conference on Yoga, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, (Deemed to be University, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, Nalanda, Bihar), 18 February 2021
The Indian philosophy of mind and An Introduction to the Advaita text Drk-Drsya-Viveka, Bard College Berlin, 19 February 2021

Arjuna’s Conflict, Duryodhana’s Pain and Krishna’s Smile: How Bhagavadgītā and Mahābhārata Contextualises Layered Psychological States Within a Transformative Philosophy of Enlightenment”, Delhi University Mahabaharata SPARC Project lecture, 20 February 2021Video is here: https://youtu.be/UYJ6ZO-PmYI

“Basics in Philosophy”: Fourteen Online YouTube mini Lectures – 2019-2020

“Freedom”: What is it to be free? Can someone or something bind you or make you free, which means – freedom as an external entity which can be controlled and manipulated by an external source, a person etc. Or is it an inner gift, the expression of inclusion and contentment? URL: https://youtu.be/0TytlwxctqU
“Flowing with Time”: flowing with time is also to recognise and respond to few could be blocks that stay against the flow, but also are enhancers enriching our experience – people, desires, perceptions, and the question ‘what is the purpose’. URL: https://youtu.be/-dpaaXwv3EA

“Can You Self-introduce?”: Self-introduction is about Connecting with one-self, and then with the other. Best Connect happens when you can engage fully, and detach too in the same degree at the same moment! URL: https://youtu.be/P-lQz3GzFpc

“Are You Good?”: Often philosophers debate about the notion of goodness in life … goodness as more of an ethical principle or of some teleological value with a normative perspective to it. But then have we thought about the huge phenomenological impact of not “just goodness” but “being good” ? – Being “good to oneself”, and “good to another”. Such a discussion will help give a “flesh and blood” angle to an otherwise detached and depersonalised abstraction. URL: https://youtu.be/Xww2lArGcN4
“Are You Excited?”: Philosophy starts with the ability to be awe-struck – to be overwhelmed by the seen and the unseen; To be Excited as if a million flowers open to your eyes at once. URL: https://youtu.be/8Zpa2L0TfcE

“How to Feel Time?”: Flow with Time – And that lets you know and take with you what is around. Experience the Timelessness every moment. URL: https://youtu.be/wjz2PnGFQ1c

“How to Connect?”: We wish to Connect with Everything around us. How to connect? URL: https://youtu.be/BvMZ02YFv8E

“How to Dream?”:Best insights and solutions to problems come in your dreams. They are there all the time. Learn to be with them and travel with them. URL: https://youtu.be/HuZhYHqr_Sk

“How to Argue?”: Why are our arguments often weak, and make us fail in conveying what we have in mind? Argument is not showing your prowess, or your power to defeat another. Argumentation is the tool that allows to lighten and enlighten yours and another’s mind. URL: https://youtu.be/NMmXuZBYP4Y

“What is the Cause?”: In our daily life we tend to find meaning and cope with agreeable and disagreeable matters by claiming or blaming something to be the cause, and effect following that. For good things we wish to claim cause as belonging or originating from us. And for not so good things, the cause is always the other. URL: https://youtu.be/v2cvUKXwdng

“What is it to Feel?”: It cannot be described easily, or logically Because Feeling involves many aspects of our personality, the pointers we have inside us to relate with people. URL: https://youtu.be/NGfK8glbOGU

“How to Think?”: Thinking is what we do all the time. Yet we do not think right all the time. Why are you not thinking right? URL: https://youtu.be/f3l3U1vcS5Y

“Do You have Empathy?”: Empathy is related to how you communicate and connect with another person.URL: https://youtu.be/nTcOsDjHXmI

“What is the Purpose of Philosophy?” URL: https://youtu.be/oT58GVogpS4
The Promise of AI: Current State of Art and Way Forward for India, Thematic Introduction and Moderation, Public Panel Discussion, 9 January 2020, JRD Tata Auditorium, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
“Beyond Body, and Experiencing Consciousness: Distinguishing the Ontology of the Brain and the Self”, Invited Lecture, 31 January 2020, at IIT Chennai
“Experiencing Consciousness through the Self: Importance of Love, Empathy and Wisdom”, Public Lecture, 2 February 2020 at Theosophical Society Adyar (Blavatsky Bungalow), Chennai
“The Mysticism of Consciousness in Indian Wisdom Traditions”, Public Lecture, 3 February 2020, at Theosophical Society Adyar (Blavatsky Bungalow), Chennai
“Andrew’s Love and Will’s Garden: Exploring the Lives and Minds of Humans and Machines – A Discussion on Two Sci-Fi Movies that Straddles the Identity, Love and Intelligence Discourses”, 7 February 2020
Evening Philosophy Chat Discussion, Topic: AI and the Promise for India, Speaker: Prof. Sangeetha Menon, Dr. Tilak Agerwala, Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar, Dr. Anjula Gurtoo, Chairperson: Prof. Sangeetha Menon Coordinators: Niharika Sharma and Ashwini G, Date: 09 January 2020.
“AI, Self and the Humanities” at the Panel Discussion on “The Future and Promise of Artificial Intelligence” on 28 February 2020, at Centre for Society and Policy, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
“The magical weaving of the Now and to Connect that moment of the Now to a never ending history of the Present”, Workshop at the Shankar IAS Academy, Bengaluru, on 20 February 2020
“Communication and Purpose”, Workshop at the Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai, on 2 March 2020

“Understanding Mind, Body and the Self”, Lecture at Université Des Mascareignes, Mauritius, on 7 October 2019
“Finding Purpose: Self-Management and Consciousness”, Lecture at Université Des Mascareignes, Mauritius, on 14 October 2019
“Is Consciousness a Principle of Creativity: Contemporary Discussions in Natyashastra & Emotion Studies”, Lecture at Lecture Theatre, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius on 15 October 2019
“Consciousness, Emotion Studies and Creativity”, National Prime time programme of “Srijan with Vinaye Goodary” for the national television channel of Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on 16 October 2019 at 19.00 hrs
Dialogue meeting at Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) on teacher training and curriculum development, on 17 October 2019
The “Fragile” Human Experience and the “Strong” Artificial Intelligence: Limits, Possibilities, and Challenge, Thematic Introduction and moderation, Public Panel Discussion, Lecture Hall, National Institute of Advanced Studies, 20 Nov 2019

Sangeetha Menon

Sangeetha Menon

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